Friday, January 24, 2014

Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the
National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has
assigned defenseman Ryan Murphy to the Charlotte Checkers of the American
Hockey Leahue (AHL).

Murphy, 20, has totaled two goals and nine assists (11
points) in 39 NHL games with Carolina this season. The Aurora, Ont., native is
in his first full professional season since being drafted by the Hurricanes in
the first round, 12th overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Because he was
reassigned today, Murphy (5’11”, 185 lbs.) is eligible to play with Charlotte
during the NHL’s Olympic Break.

...

Based on reports from Friday morning's skate, the 12th overall pick in the 2011 draft will likely lace up tonight for the Checkers (20-19-1), with both Keegan Lowe and Beau Schmitz participating in a post-skate workout.

Murphy has been a healthy scratch for the past four games in Raleigh. By joining the Checkers before today's 5 p.m. deadline, Murphy is now eligible to play for Charlotte through the NHL's Olympic break (assuming he stays in Charlotte until Feb. 9). There remains a possibility that Elias Lindholm -- the only other 'Canes player on an entry-level contract who is not playing in the Olympics -- could spend some time in Charlotte over the NHL's hiatus. The 2013 first-rounder (fifth overall) remains eligible to play with the Checkers because he has not accrued as many days on the Hurricanes roster as Murphy. Lindholm missed time while playing in the World Juniors for Sweden earlier this month, allowing him to be exempt from today's 5 p.m. deadline.